PTSD and Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Aging Veterans

To determine if late-life posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with cardiovascular disease in a sample of older veterans, and whether the association is independent of medical and psychiatric comorbities.

Retrospective cohort study conducted using the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Patient Care Database (2000-2011).

VA medical centers in the United States.

A total of 138,341 veterans 55 years and older without cardiovascular disease at study baseline (2000-2003).

PTSD and cardiovascular disease (as defined by diagnoses of: cerebrovascular disease [CVD], congestive heart failure [CHF], myocardial infarction [MI], and peripheral vascular disease [PVD]) were identified by ICD-9 codes during study baseline (2000-2003) and follow-up (2004-2011), respectively.

3% of veterans (N = 4,041) had a baseline diagnosis of PTSD. Unadjusted increased risk of incidence of CVD was 80%, CHF was 56%, MI was 82%, and PVD was 60% in veterans with PTSD compared with those without PTSD. After adjustment for demographics, medical comorbidities, substance use, and psychiatric comorbidities, veterans with late-life PTSD were at a 45% increased risk for incident CVD, 26% increased risk for incident CHF, 49% increased risk for incident MI, and 35% increased risk for PVD compared with veterans without late-life PTSD.

Findings highlight the longitudinal impact of PTSD on increasing the incidence of cardiovascular disease in older adults. This study implies the need for greater monitoring and treatment of PTSD in older persons, particularly older veterans, to assist in preventing adverse outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease, over the long term.